Kickin’ off the Summer of Prog(ression)

Being a fan of King Crimson and Liquid Tension Experiment (Tony Levin + 3/5 of Dream Theater)… I’m supremely stoked for tonight. I’ve been kicking myself for not finding some way to catch the Liquid Tension Experiment decade reunion show at BB King’s in 2008 as well as any dates on the King Crimson + Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison (drumming duo!) tour that same year. Well tonight should be just as epic. It’s the first date of a North American Tour Stick Men are embarking on in support of their new Soup record. The Stick Men are Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson’s drummer), and Michael Bernier; they will be supported by the new collaborative project- Gartdrumm/Orchid. I’ve seen a bunch of videos on youtube and the music, intricate as it is (Levin and Bernier play the Chapman Stick - a 12-stringed bass/guitar hybrid) is nothing short of beautiful. I also learned that on June 20th Adrian Belew (King Crimson) will be performing at the same venue (The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York) with support from Gartdrumm’s 3 bandmate, Joey Eppard.

I won’t lie… I started listening to the Progressive Rock genre founding King Crimson after I saw Coheed and Cambria’s Travis Stever wearing a very bold shirt at many shows in 2004. I did some research and learned that the t-shirt design was actually the album cover of the King Crimson 1969 classic debut, In The Court of the Crimson King. I thought Coheed and Cambria was straight up prog (they’re more of a forefather of New Prog - which I define as, alternative rock with progressive tendencies) until I dug into King Crimson’s 13 full albums. From there my musical taste evolved to the more progressive end of the musical spectrum and I discovered the greatness and presence of it in 3.

I have yet to see any bit of King Crimson live, so I’m beyond excited. I’ve seen plenty videos of Tony Levin and his incredible stage presence, and saw the recent DVD of him with Peter Gabriel (Tony Levin has played on every single Peter Gabriel solo record). I actually met Tony Levin in 2007 at one of the 3 & Porcupine Tree shows.

Anyway, I’m psyched the audio of tonight’s show will be up on aftershowmusic.com to re-experience the majesty of the night.

Michael Bernier, Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin at rehearsal
photo yoinked from Tony Levin’s blog.

> Soup record info + purchase link (album artwork by Michael Bernier and some of the mixes were done by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson!)

> The Daily Freeman review of Soup

> The Daily Freeman: Stick Men Launch Tour in Bearsville

May 9 Woodstock / Bearsville Theater
May 11 Montreal / Cabaret Juste Pour Rire
May 12 Toronto / Lee’s Palace
May 13 Detroit / Magic Bag
May 14 Cleveland / Beachland Ballroom
May 15 Chicago / Martyrs
May 16 Minneapolis / Cedar Cultural Center
May 17 Milwaukee / Shank Hall
May 18 Cincinnatti / Southgate House
May 19 Pittsburgh / New Hazlett Theater
May 20 West Springfield, VA / Jaxx
May 21 Annapolis / Rams Head
May 22 Sellersville, PA / Sellersville Theatre

Jun 3 Fukuoka / Gate’s 7
Jun 4 Kurashiki / Red Box
Jun 5 Yonago / Belier
Jun 6 Osaka / Janus
Jun 7 Nagoya / Bottom Line
Jun 9 Sendai / enn
Jun 10 Tokyo / STB139
Jun 11 Tokyo / STB139